Anyone been reading the "prison" thread?
Discussion
Feck me....a few posted saying what a sobering read....I'll say. Does it really make you think about your riding? If I read that again, and all the replies, experiences etc, I'd sell the bike tomorrow. As for some of the silly speeds I get up to...Christ, what am/was I thinking.
To cause injury or death through my own stupidness is one thing, but to injure/kill someone else...well.
Makes me wanna sell the gixer, or leave it on the track.
To cause injury or death through my own stupidness is one thing, but to injure/kill someone else...well.
Makes me wanna sell the gixer, or leave it on the track.
I read the thread and even sent the guy an email. I think it's important to bear in mind that it was an accident. Accidents, by definition, cannot be prevented and there's only so much anyone can do to limit the likelihood of an accident happening.
If you hold a straight flush in poker, there's nothing to say that someone else won't have a royal flush. We always play the odds.
If you hold a straight flush in poker, there's nothing to say that someone else won't have a royal flush. We always play the odds.
Rawwr said:
I read the thread and even sent the guy an email. I think it's important to bear in mind that it was an accident. Accidents, by definition, cannot be prevented and there's only so much anyone can do to limit the likelihood of an accident happening.
If you hold a straight flush in poker, there's nothing to say that someone else won't have a royal flush. We always play the odds.
Oh, I apprecite that....just makes me think that's all...If you hold a straight flush in poker, there's nothing to say that someone else won't have a royal flush. We always play the odds.
I posted this on that thread........
But I have to ask... of course the rider was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I think you were just about still moving, so that would affect it. However the over-riding rule should surely be that you should always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear? What if there was a fallen tree where your car was? A straw bale, sofa, or something else that had fallen off a truck? A deer or escaped cow? Even a car parked there for whatever reason (we've all seen cars stopped for stupid reasons on twisty roads).This was my thoughts as well - I ride a bike - as I think Kermit does as well (I may be wrong).
The point is that 10PS admitted he was driving like a dick, and has been punished for it - however I cannot help but think what would have happened if it had been a car that had broken down in the place he was occupying, and said biker came round the corner and either hit the car of the broken down vehicle - or a person exiting the car.
Where would the blame have been in this case? Would this have been prosecuted? I think the outcome for the rider could have been very different - same injuries, but he could have been in the same sort of trouble as 10PS was.
Other point is if the injured biker hit the car, how did the other bikes following manage to avoid it?
(sorry just re-read and see bike was catapulted backwards from scene of crash so other bikes would have seen).
(Y2Blade responded) - but I did not get any more response from anyone else - I wonder what those on this site think?
Fats25 said:
Kermit power said:
One of the things that I am most sobered by is the fact that Dan was as near as made no difference stationary when a motorbike within the speed limit for the road hit him and did himself such serious injury.
Never before have I really given so much thought to exactly what "make sure you can stop in the distance you can see" really means.
I can't help wondering what would've happened if the guy on the bike had come along even a minute later? How far could they have extended the notion of the accident being caused by Dan's driving as opposed to that of the motorcyclist, even though he was riding within the law.
Never before have I really given so much thought to exactly what "make sure you can stop in the distance you can see" really means.
I can't help wondering what would've happened if the guy on the bike had come along even a minute later? How far could they have extended the notion of the accident being caused by Dan's driving as opposed to that of the motorcyclist, even though he was riding within the law.
Gizmo535 said:
10 Pence Short said:
1) To what degree was the motorcyclist contributory (if any) eg by going round the bend too fast?
The motorcyclist did absolutely nothing wrong. There was a full accident investigation unit at the scene (the road was closed for 5 hours to measure up and photograph). They estimated that his speed was between 30 and 60 mph. He was measured to have had only 36 metres to see my vehicle blocking the road (and still moving slowly towards him), react and brake. Even at the lower end of that scale, he wouldn't have enough time to have braked and avoided my car. From memory they deduced that he had between 1.1 and 2.2 seconds to react. He was not 'on a jolly', he was travelling from his home to a holiday cottage in the lakes.
He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could easily have been a car or even a truck coming the other way. Sadly for him, it was a vulnerable motorbike.
Firstly thanks for being so candid and writing so well, I'm looking forward to further instalments. There but for the grace of various deities go us all - and I'm sure nearly all of us have had close shaves and 'what if' moments occasionally.The motorcyclist did absolutely nothing wrong. There was a full accident investigation unit at the scene (the road was closed for 5 hours to measure up and photograph). They estimated that his speed was between 30 and 60 mph. He was measured to have had only 36 metres to see my vehicle blocking the road (and still moving slowly towards him), react and brake. Even at the lower end of that scale, he wouldn't have enough time to have braked and avoided my car. From memory they deduced that he had between 1.1 and 2.2 seconds to react. He was not 'on a jolly', he was travelling from his home to a holiday cottage in the lakes.
He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could easily have been a car or even a truck coming the other way. Sadly for him, it was a vulnerable motorbike.
But I have to ask... of course the rider was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I think you were just about still moving, so that would affect it. However the over-riding rule should surely be that you should always be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear? What if there was a fallen tree where your car was? A straw bale, sofa, or something else that had fallen off a truck? A deer or escaped cow? Even a car parked there for whatever reason (we've all seen cars stopped for stupid reasons on twisty roads).
The point is that 10PS admitted he was driving like a dick, and has been punished for it - however I cannot help but think what would have happened if it had been a car that had broken down in the place he was occupying, and said biker came round the corner and either hit the car of the broken down vehicle - or a person exiting the car.
Where would the blame have been in this case? Would this have been prosecuted? I think the outcome for the rider could have been very different - same injuries, but he could have been in the same sort of trouble as 10PS was.
Other point is if the injured biker hit the car, how did the other bikes following manage to avoid it?
(sorry just re-read and see bike was catapulted backwards from scene of crash so other bikes would have seen).
Edited by Fats25 on Wednesday 24th October 14:56
I don't know if anyone one remembers the original thread but it's definately worth reading also
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's a long one but worth reading through to the end, and it is very sobering. Made me think twice about the way i ride.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's a long one but worth reading through to the end, and it is very sobering. Made me think twice about the way i ride.
Rawwr said:
I think it's important to bear in mind that it was an accident. Accidents, by definition, cannot be prevented and there's only so much anyone can do to limit the likelihood of an accident happening.
I agree.However, the CPS will not see it accordingly.
Somebody is always at fault. This is their attitude.
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